Street Party Will Salute Veterans, Raise Money

Thousands of war heroes from World War I to Vietnam will gather in Orlando today for a major fund-raising effort by the Vietnam Veterans of Central Florida.

The ''salute to veterans'' street party is being sponsored by Central Florida veterans, Church Street Station and Sea World to honor all veterans.

Organizers hope veterans from both world wars, together with those who served in Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Grenada and other places, will attend the jamboree.

A host of attractions have been lined up. The evening begins at 5 p.m. when Church Street will be blocked off. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, pop singing stars of the '60s, headline the bill with shows at 9 and 11:30 p.m.

The U.S. Navy Band and Flag Corps from the Naval Training Center in Orlando will give a concert at 8 p.m. Linda Jordan, wife of the president of the Vietnam Veterans of Central Florida, Jim Jordan, will sing ''Together Then, Together Again,'' which has become the anthem of Vietnam veterans in Florida. Mrs. Jordan wrote the song and performed it in front of 150,000 people on Veterans Day in Washington last year.

Medal of Honor winners from World War II, Korea and Vietnam also will be honored during the fund-raiser.

''We hope this event will solidify the gap between Vietnam veterans and others,'' Jim Jordan said. ''It is a way of closing the ranks a bit more.

''It should be a really good night. We're hoping the fun will go on all night long.''

There are about 90,000 Vietnam veterans in Florida, including about 25,000 in the center of the state. Most of the 31 Vietnam veterans groups in the state will be represented at the party.

Members of the non-profit Vietnam Veterans of Central Florida say it is their first major fund-raising effort, and have contacted their 300-plus members, another 1,500 people who have supported the group and others to mobilize support for the event.

Tickets are $4 in advance and $6 tonight. The group will receive all the cash from the advance sales and a percentage of the gate receipts.

The vets meet at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Edgewater Drive, Orlando, and hope that the party will help pay for a permanent home.